Submarine salvage apparatus.



H. L. BOWDOIN. SUBMARINB SALVAGE APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1909.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES.

H. L. B'OWDOIN.

SUBMARINE SALVAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10 1909.

Patented 001;. 3, 1911.

' 4 annma-annn'r 2.

W o I INVENTOR H. L. BOWDOIN.

SUBMARINE SALVAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1909.

Patented 0613,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. L. BOWDOIN.

I SUBMARINE SALVAGE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10. 1909.

1,004,552. S v Patented 0013,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOI? QF M.

- Arm/Mb COLUMBIA PLANWIIAFH C0-- WMHINGTON' I). C:

Bownom,

and a resident of New York city, wcountyof New York and State of New .submarme salvage apparatus, and conslsts P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY LIVINGSTON BOWDOIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUBMABINE SALVAGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

Application filed August 10, 1909. Serial No. 512,214.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HARRY LIVINGSTON a citizen of the United States, in the York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Salvage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in in the novel features, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus and mechanism by means of which two or more men may be lowered to any depth, and explore, wreck, salvage or hook on and float any vessel or valuable object.

I Wrecking operations, up to the present time, so far as I am aware, have been confined to vessels sunk in not over 125 feet, (a divers limit), so that all vessels sunk in eater depths remain untouched. As some of these still contain large amounts of gold and unperishable cargo a vast untouched field of great wealth may be opened up by means of this submarine salvage apparatus.

By its use submarines may be quickly raised from any depth, saving life and property.

My invention also embraces novel constructions and features, all of which will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the submarine salvage apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross section on lines A-A Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on lines 13-13 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section of the made up cable. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the tools. Fig. 6 is a vertical view of the proand a method of connecting the different units of the made up cable.

The apparatus consists of a strong steel chamber -1 1 built up of I beams, plate and bracing so as to withstand an enormous pressure on the walls of said chamber. On the upper corners of the chamber are fastened heavy bearing plates -.12- in which are fastened suspension chains or rods -13 connected at their upper ends and suitably fastened to the end of a cable 14- by means of which the apparatus is raised or lowered. A manhole -15- (Fig. 1) for the entrance and exit of the men while on the surface, fastens on the inside, and is made watertight by a gasket. Leading from the surface, and entering the top of the chamber, and securely fastened thereto is a cable 16 made up of two hose pipes, electric power and light wires, and telephone wires. Mounted in the sides, ends, top and bottom of the chamber are ball and socket universal joints s17- having means for packing 18-' and a hole fitted with stuffing boxes -19-- through which are operated the saw, tools, etc., for working.

One style of tool, as shown, consists of a hollow rod -20- to the outer end of which is fastened a pair of jaws 21- one of which carries a hook -22- and the other a gig 23. The jaws are manipulated by means of an elbow joint -24- connected to the rod 25- which is operated by the nut wheel -26. Another tool is a metal cutting saw -27- (Sheet 1) mounted in a carrier Q8- fastened on one end of a hollow rod -29- which passes through the stufling boxes -19 and the ball and socket universal bearings 17 and is operated from the inside of the chamber by means of a motor acting on the shaft 30-- and the sprocket -31- which engages slots in the saw.

Conveniently located tus are ports of heavy glass -32- which may be covered when not in use, or in case of damage by the cover cup 33 (Fig. 10) which is mounted on a rod -34 and swung over the port from the inside of the chamber by means of the handle -35--- mounted on the inner end of the rod 34..

On the sides of the apparatus near the around the apparaends are mounted movable arms -36* by means of nut gears 38 (Fig. 2) engaging bevel pinions 9 mounted on shafts passing through stufling boxes and the side walls of the apparatus, and operated by crank handles -Cl0. The arms may be moved horizontally in a circle by means of feather-key gears -4:1 operated by bevel pinions, shafts and crank handles from the inside. The arms are swung alongside when not in use.

At each end of the apparatus are mounted propellers The propeller shafts are carried ina casing -43- (Fig. 6), having bevel gears L4- on their inner ends. Meshing in the bevel are pinions -4:5 with feather-keys on the driving shafts -4t6. The lower edge of the casings carry gears l7 which engage pinions 1'8 mounted on steering shafts l9 by operating which, the propeller casings and propellers may be oscillated from side to side for steering. The operating shafts may be withdrawn from the propeller casings, allowing the propellers and casings to slip out should same be caught in wreckage. Attached to the bottom of the apparatus are wheels 50 one of which may be used for steering when moving on the bottom. The apparatus contains suitably placed search lights -51- a switch board 52- (Fig. 3) and a telephone. is rove through suitable blocks on the boom, A-frame, etc., -53- on a hoister and attached to the drum of a hoisting engine 54. The made up cable 16- passes through suitable blocks on the boom, A- frame, etc., -53- takes three or four turns around a hoisting drum 55' and is automatically coiled into a receptacle 56-, by means of a hollow guiding arm 57 held in position by, and moving in, bearings -5859. The guiding arm carries a gear 60meshing into a pinion 61 on a shaft 62 which is connected by suitable gears with the shaft of the drum 55 and geared at a speed that will coil or uncoil the cable l6 in the receptacle -56- as the cable passes over the drum. The end of the cable ;16 extends through the lower part of the receptacle 56 and the parts are separated and connected as fol lows: The light and power cables 63- to 64. The telephone cable a dynamo v 65 to a transmitter, and one hose to an air pump 66 the other hose open to the air 67 to obtain circulation.

To operate: Two or more men enter the chamber of the apparatus, fastening the manhole after them. The apparatus is lowered into the sea and the air pump and dynamo started. When it reaches the bottom, say in 250 feet, it is maneuvered around by means of its propellers and through telephone communication with the tender on the surface until it is landed near one end of surface and on board.

The hoisting cable -14l the sunken vesselsay a submarine-made visible by the search lights of the apparatus. A pontoon is then lowered and quickly fastened to that end of the submarine. l/Vhen fastened, the pontoon is pulled upright, and enough air pumped in to hold it in position. By the same method a pontoon is fastened to the other end, and when done, (in a few hours time), the apparatus is hauled to the Air is then forced into the pontoons, and when sufiicient displacement has been created the pontoons will rise rapidly to the surface, bringing the submarine within a few feet of the surface. By hooking on to the pontoon chains, however, the submarine could be hoisted awash, and her crew released. After fastening her hatches she could be slacked back until held. by the pontoons and towed to dry dock. When a vessel is to be raised, if

of iron, the apparatus when alongside and in the desired position, swings out two arms,

.andthe electro-magnets enable it to rigidly adhere to the side of the vessel. The pontoon is then lowered and fastened to a rib of the vessel. A suflicient number of pont-oons are thus fastened to the sides of the vessel. to lift her, and she is towed in to smooth water and the dry dock.

What I claim is:

1. A submarine salvage apparatus, consisting of a strongly built chamber, means for providing a circulation of air for breathjing purposes in said chamber, means for raising and lowering the apparatus, ball and socket universal bearings in the walls of said chamber, tools operated through the bearings from the inside, a cable for supplying electric light and power within said chamber, magnetic arms attached to said chamber, and suitable means of propulsion through the water and on the bottom.

2. In a submarine salvage apparatus an air and water-tight metallic chamber with i heavily built walls, a series of ball and socket universal bearings spaced around said walls, stuffing boxes in the holes of said ball and socket universal bearings, tools mounted in the universal bearings, arms carrying electric magnets mounted on the outside, and controlled from the inside, of said chamber, means for mechanically raising and lowering said chamber or apparatus, wheels on which the chamber may travel when landed, propellers and movable propeller casings for the propulsion and steering of the said chamber, ports for observation and for search lights, protection covers for the said ports, and a made up cable for furnishing electricity and air to said chamber of the submarine salvage apparatus.

3. In a submarine salvage apparatus a chamber, or vessel, to carry one or more people, a cable for raising or lowering said chamber, or vessel, in the water, saws, drills,

vessel, and a tube for supplying air Within guiding arm and mechanism for automatipincer jaws, hooks, gigs, or other tools, op- Signed at New York city, in the county of erated from the inslde of said chamber, or New York and State of New York.

said chamber, or vessel, for breathing pur- HARRY LIVINGSTON BOWDOIN' poses, a drum for handling the tube, and a Witnesses:

L. H. ANDREWS,

cally coiling or uncoiling said tube. G. D. Mosmm.

7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

